Thread clamp



Aug. 9, KEYS THREAD CLAMP Filed Oct. 20. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORATTONEY'S.

Aug. 1932' THREAD CLAMP 2 Sheets heet 2 Filed Oct. 20. 1930 T I ,INv TORQ BY. I v

I ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 9, 1932 FATE F F ICE JEREMIAH KEYS, 0F PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA; ASSIGNOR T'O ALVA CARPET 85 I 1 I RUG COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA THREAD CLAMP Application filed October20,1930. Serial 1310,4895.

This invention relates to thread clamps adapted for use with a loomparticularly in holding and anchoring the ends of warp threads which aresupplied alternately from 5 two beams. v

In the weaving of certain fabrics, such as velvet or tapestry rugs,according to a method wherein one portion of a rug is woven frompile-warp threads from one beam of the loom and the other portion iswoven from pile-warp threads from a second beam of the likewise hold andanchor the ends of the pile-warp threads of the first beam whilethey areinactive'and the pile-warp threads of the second beam are in operation.

Objects of this invention are to provide a simple and efiective meansfor holding and M anchoring the pile-warp threads, first of one m beamand then of the other beam, in carrying on the weaving operationsnecessary to the'making of a complete rug; and to embody such means in asingle device which is 0 so constructed that it may be easily and 60quickly attached to and detached from the ends of all of the pile-warpthreads of one beam at one time and of the other beam at other times.

It is also an object of this invention to provide simple and effectivemeans for so holding all the pile-warp threads of one beam at a time, infixed longitudinal relation to each other, so that these pile-warpthreads may be out without fear of disturbing their relativelongitudinal relation and, when they are parti-colored threads, theirpattern registration.

To the above ends the present invention contemplates a clamp,characterized by a pair of parallel side members, which are yieldinglypressed towards each otherbut prevented from approaching closer togetherthan substantially the width of a clamp bar, this clamp bar beingarranged so that it may be inserted between the parallel side membersand carry the warp threads with it with the result that the warp threadswill be'tightly clamped between the clamp bar and'the side members. ,Theclamp bar is provided with a notch adapted to receive a pin'or the likesecured to one of the side members at or near the end thereof and pro--je'cting into an opening in the other of such members, the pin, togetherwith the notched end of the clamp bar, serving as a pivot. whereby thebar maybe readily attached to and removed from the, side members, and

' whereby the clamp bar may be easily moved into clamping positionbetween the side members; to there engage and hold the ends of thewarpth'reads thatare to be anchored to a stationary part of the loom, asby supporting; the clamp on suitable brackets or the like" carriedbyjanappropriate part of the loom as, for example, the frame thereof. 7

1 Otherobjectsand advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe "following description, taken inconnection with I the accompanylng,drawlngs 1n -wh1ch- Figure 1 1s a fragmentalview 1n elevation of a'loomhaving the thread clamp embodying this "invention. supported thereon inthread-anchoring position; Figure 2 is a fragmental perspective view ofa loom, showing the relation of certain heddles to each other and to thethread clamp when in thread-anchoring position; Figure? is an enlargedfragmentalside elevation of. the thread clamp; Figure 4is av plan viewof the clamp, and Figure 5 is an end view of the clamp.

The tem, in association with which the clamp embodying this invention isherein illustrated, comprises a frame 5, including an arch-beam 6 andabreast beam 7. The

loom further comprises a. lay 8 which is constructed and operated asusual in front of a plurality of heddles 9, 10, :11, 12' and '13, thefirst two of which are adapted to ing threads 2, according to commonpractice.

During such time as the weaving operation is being carried out withrespect to the set of pile-warp threads 14, the heddle 9 controllingsuch threads is raised and lowlongitudinal relation toeach other a-ndare anchored to a stationary part'of the loom,

such as the breast beam Such holding a y r whereby the warp threads 14and 15,to whlch and anchoring" of thethreads isaccomplished by athreadclamp-'l7,-comprising a-clamp body, which includes a pair of parallelside members 18 and18, provided along their lower" longitudinal margins.with spacing plates 19, which serve to hold theupper margins of theside members in a spaced relation, so that such side members form witheach other a longitudinal grooveor channel 20inter-mediatethe uppermargins there of Securedto the-lower margin of theside member 18- are aplurality ofguide pins2l, ,which are screw-threadedat-their extremeouter endsand= are spaced from each other longitudinally of that member:and project through the spacing members 19 -and the side member 18-' theyside member 18",'"together with the spacing ,member- .19 carriedthereby, being freely movable on such pins. on theprojecting-endo-feachpin:2l -is carried acompressionvspring 22, one-endof which engages the @outeraface :of the side member 18"and the otherend of which engages a washer 23 .held-onrthe pin by a nut 24' which :iscarried rby the =screw-threaded portion of the pinand'is adaptedto-serve as av means whereby the thrustof the spring which is utilizedto: urge the side members 18 and 18 toward each other,-m-ay be-varied.

Into the groove or channel 20, isadapted to be introduced a clamp bar'26 .whichis of a length substantially equal to the-length-of therespective sidem'embers 18 and 18' and is of a thicknesssubstantiallyequal to the normal width of the groove', -su'chrznormalwidth" being determined by the combined thickness of the*spacingmemberslQ. The

clamp bar 26 is provided at one end with a notch'27 adaptedtoi'receive'a pin28secured to the sidemember '18,"at or near one endthereof, and projecting *intoan'opening 29 jnthe side member ;18 -,tl1'epin being freely slida'ble witbinfhat iopening; and serving,

together withthe notched end of'the. clamp bar, as a pivotpwhereby the'bar may be may be, depending upon which of these sets of threads isinactive during the weaving operation. As shown in F igure 5, thecorners of the clamp bar 26, where it enters the groove orschannel20,arerounded or slightly curved,

and this is also true with respect to the corners of the side members atthe entrance to such groove or channel, the purpose of such rounding ofthesecorners being to facilitate introduction of theclamp bar into thechannel and to prevent cutting the warp threads as the clamp is beingapplied to the same.

For removably supportingpthe clamp '17 such clamp is alternatelyapplied,may be anchored to a stationary part of the loom,

. the breast beam 7 isprovided withubrackets, [of which preferably twoare provided upon the breast beam, to support and anchor the ends of theclamp. One: of these brackets is shown and indicated by .the numera1v31.Each comprises base portion 32 suitably connected to the: upper .face ofthe breast beam, a vertical standard 33 and a horizontal arm 34:, the.latter carrying a U-shaped yoke 35 which may be formed by bending thearm upwardly, as shown at a; downwardly, as shown at b; outwardly, asshownat 0, and

upwardly, as shown atrZ'; the arms of the 1:

yoke being spaceda sufficient distance apart to accommodate the clampwhich rests upon the base portion thereof. In order. to medially supportthe clamp and hold it against flex 111g" under tension of the anchoredwarp vat f; and upwardly, as shown at g. The'dimensions of the engagingpart of the bracket 36 are substantially the same asthose of: thebracket 35, so that the clamp may be introduced between the arms thereofto there rest on the base of the same. By supportingthe yoke 36 from therear arm thereof, rather than from a front arm of the same, the bracket37 is so disposed with respect to the suspended yoke 36 that the clampis free to be moved rearwardly without obstruction, when lifted from theyokes 35 and 36,and it is, ofcourse, true that the clampmay be likewiseintroduced into these yokes when moved forwardly.

As shown in Figure 2, the warp threads 14 controlled by the heddle 9 arein operation, and the-heddle 10 is supported out of operation, and thewarp threads 15 controlled by the heddle 10 are held in a fixedlongitudinal relation to each other, by the clamp 17, and are anchoredto a stationary part of the loom frame, namely, the breast beam 7, bythat clamp which is supported by the yokes 35 and 36. Upon completion ofthe weaving operation with respect to the set of warp threads l l, theheddle 10 is removed from the hanger 16 and lowered to operatingposition and connected to the heddle-operating mechanism, not shown, andthe heddle 9 control ling the set of warp threads 14 is disconnectedfrom said heddle-operating mechanism and connected to the hanger 16which holds that heddle up out of operating position. Then the clamp 17is lifted from the yokes 35 and 36 and moved rearwardly and placed insuch position with respect to the fell of the cloth that the warpthreads 15 may be secured to the fabric at a point slightly rearwardlyof the clamp. These warp threads 15 are secured to the fabric byoperating the loom to throw two or three picks, whereupon the clamp isremoved from the ends of warp threads 15 that protrude from the face ofthe fabric and applied to the warp threads 14. In applying the clamp tothe warp threads l t, the clamp body is introduced between the sets ofwarp threads 14 and 15, the former being held up out of operativeposition and the latter lowered to operative position, whereupon theclamp bar is interlocked at its notched end with the pin 28 andmoved-about such pin as a pivot to thread-engaging position intermediatethe side members 18 and 18, the clamp bar carrying downwardly with itinto the groove or channel 20 portions of the set of warp threads 14 Thethreads thus engaged by the clamp bar are held in a fixed longitudinalrelation by reason of their being impinged, through the action of thecompression springs 22, between the clamp bar 26 and the side members 18and 18, which are permitted to yield or separate, a distanceproportional to the thickness of the threads, as the clamp bar movesinto clamping posi tion. After the warp threads 1d have been thusclamped, they, together with the free ends of the warp threads 15thatprotrude from the face of the fabric, are cut or severed flush withthe surface of the fabric, whereupon the clamp is lifted, movedforwardly and placed in the yokes 35 and 36, so as to anchor thesethreads while the weaving operation is being carried out with respect tothe set of warp threads 15.

Although only one form of the invention is herein shown and described,it will be understood that certain changes may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims:

What is claimed is:

1. A thread ciamp comprising a clamp body including a pair of sidemembers, one of which is provided with pins and the other of which isprovided with openings adapted to receive such pins, yieldable meansurging said side members toward each other, and a clamp bar adapted tobe moved into threaden agingposition 7 intermediate said side members.

, 2. A thread clamp comprising a clamp body including a pair of sidemembers, one of which is provided with pinsand the other of which isprovided with openings adapted to receive such pins, yieldable meansurging said side members toward each other, a clamp bar adapted to bemoved into thread-engaging position intermediate said side members, andmeans fordetachably and pivotally connecting said clamp bar to saidclamp body.

3. A. thread clamp comprising a clamp body including a pair of sidemembers, one of which is provided with pins and the other of which isprovided with openings adapted to receive such pins, yieldable meansurging said side members toward each other, a pivot pin carried by oneof said side members, and a clamp bar having at one end a notch adaptedto receive said pivot pin and adapted to serve in conjunction therewithas a separable connector between said clamp bar and said clamp body andas a pivot means whereby said clamp bar may be moved into threadengagingposition intermediate said side members.

4. A; thread clamp comprising a clamp body including a pair of sidemembers, one of which is provided with pins and the other of which isprovided with openings adapted to receive such pins, a pivot pin carriedby one of said side members, a clamp bar havlng at one end a notchadapted to receive said pivot pin and adapted to serve in conjunctiontherewith as a separable connector between said clamp bar and said clampbody and as a pivot means whereby said clamp bar may be moved intothread-engaging position intermediate said side members, and a pluralityof compression springs associated with said clamp body and serving tourge said side members toward each other.

5. A thread clamp comprising a clamp body including a pair of sidemembers, one of which is provided with a pivot pin, and a clamp barhaving at one end a notch adapted to receive said pivot pin and adaptedto serve in conjunction therewith as a separable connector between saidclamp bar and said clamp body and as a pivot means whereby said clampbar may be moved into thread-engaging position intermediate said sidemembers.

6. A thread clamp comprising a clamp body including a pair of relativelymovable side members, one of which is provided with a pivot pin, and aclamp bar having at one end a notch adapted to receive said pivot pinand adapted to serve in conjunction there with as a separable connectorbetween said clamp bar and'said clamp body and as a pivot 7 meanswhereby said clamp bar may bemoved into thread-engaging POSItlODintermediate said side members.

7. A thread ciamp comprisinga clamp body including a pair ofrelatively-movable side members, one of which is provided With a pivotpin, a clamp bar having atone end a notch adapted to receive said pivotpin and adapted to serve in conjunction therewith as a-separabieconnector between said clamp bar and said clamp body and as a pivotmeans whereby said clamp bar may be moved into thread-engaging positionintermediate said side members, and yieldable means'urging said sidemembers toward each other.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification. V

JEREMIAH j KEYS.

